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Statistics regarding amputation due to diabetes are alarming.  Individuals with diabetes are 25 times more likely to suffer an amputation than those without.  Every 30 seconds a person with diabetes undergoes an amputation.  Within 3 years, 30% of these individuals have a second amputation and 70% will possibly die within 5 years.

These facts are startling and sobering, but they are not cut in stone and they are not true in every case.  There are ways to avoid symptoms getting to this point.

For one, recognizing symptoms that could lead to amputation is extremely important.  Many individuals with diabetes experience neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage, usually in the feet.  Neuropathy, in conjunction with impaired or limited blood supply to the feet often cause sores or ulcers on the feet which are slow to heal or get infected.  If the infection does not heal, the unfortunate result is often amputation.

In many cases, individuals experience the neuropathy – which can involve numbness or tingling – long before they have been diagnosed with diabetes.  It is important to talk to your doctor and/or a neurologist if you are experiencing these symptoms to any degree so that the cause can be determined.  If the cause is diabetes, your doctor will be able to help you develop a plan to treat and control the symptoms through diet, exercise and possibly medication.

A new study called the FIELD study has determined a way to help eliminate or reduce these issues.  Over 9,000 individuals with diabetes were studied and given fenofibrate, which reduces lipids in the body.  The effect is a normalizing of lowering triglycerides and balancing HDL cholesterol, thus markedly lowering the probability of cardiovascular issues.  In addition, researchers were delighted that the decrease of neuropathy and amputation was notable in the study which followed patients for 5 years.

While waiting for results of studies such as this one to produce medications that are available to the public, it is important to make diabetes prevention, control or care a priority.  It is also important to remember that while you are taking care of yourself, new research reveals solutions every day.  Your job is to stay as healthy as possible until the solution for you is available.